County councillor John Power is one of my generation (basically an old-timer).

He remembers the days 40 years ago when Oxford had less pollution than today.

At that time, cars ran through the city east to west and north to south, even with the rubber road in Cornmarket Street making things difficult.

The cars and buses then did not have the environmental attachments that modern vehicles have.

Mr Power is right when he says that buses are now the problem in the city centre (Oxford Mail, December 15).

Now that the city fathers have declared war on the car owner, shouldn't they look, for example, at Spain?

In Barcelona and other towns, all car parks are underground, with playgrounds and other recreational facilities above them.

In Oxford, we could have these car parks in St Giles, Westgate and of course the High (no doubt you would have to destroy a few wine cellars in that area). All these places are well above the water table.

About 1,000 car spaces in each would help our dying but beautiful city make the best of the limited shopping.

As for the Lord Mayor's new car, the Toyota Prius, Jeremy Clarkson's programme gave this car 45 miles to the gallon (the manufacturer says 65mpg). My 2000 diesel gives 46.6mpg from new, better than the Lord Mayor's car, and it has a decent boot.

Mr Power is correct in every way. Controversial? I don't think so. MICHAEL EVERETT, Upper Road, Kennington, Oxford